Baitadi’s Patan Airport viral for shooting spot TikTok videos and photos
strong>BAITADI:- Patan Airport in Baitadi, reconstructed at a cost of tens of millions of rupees, has begun to serve more as a location for creating social media videos and photos than as a site for aircraft operations. Due to the absence of regular flights, everyone from local residents to visitors to Patan uses the runway to create TikTok content and other videos.
Locals have expressed concern that the state’s investment of tens of millions of rupees has gone to waste, as the airport—reconstructed to connect the hilly districts of Sudurpaschim Province via air service—has seen no flights for a long time. Local resident Lavadev Joshi says, “Since the airport is not operational, crowds of people have started gathering on the runway to take photos and shoot videos for social media.”
The reconstruction of Patan Airport, which had remained closed since the year 2052 BS, began around 2073 BS. An agreement was reached to construct a runway measuring 20 meters in width and 580 meters in length, along with an airport tower, an office building, and other structures, at a cost of approximately 110 million rupees. In accordance with the agreement, the reconstruction work was completed within about four years.
The airport resumed partial operations in October 2020 (Ashoj 2077) following the completion of reconstruction work. Subsequently, the private carrier Summit Air operated weekly flights from Dhangadhi to Patan in Baitadi for about two years; however, locals state that the airport has since become virtually disused, as there have been no regular flights for the past five years or so.
A terminal building has already been constructed for the airport at a cost of approximately 49.7 million rupees. Although infrastructure such as the runway, control tower, offices, and terminal building is ready, the absence of regular flight services has led locals to question the facility’s utility.
Local resident Harish Bista says, “If the airport were operational, it would be easier to transport the sick or injured to Dhangadhi or other locations during emergencies. Despite the infrastructure being in place, locals have been unable to reap any direct benefits because no flights are arriving.”
Local resident Khemraj Bhatta states that the substantial investment made in the airport is going to waste, as air services are unavailable even for travel outside the district during emergencies. He emphasizes that the government needs to take the necessary steps to resume regular airport operations.
Patan Airport was viewed as vital infrastructure for expanding air connectivity not only for Baitadi but for the entire hilly region; however, the failure to establish regular flights—despite significant expenditure on infrastructure—has raised questions regarding the project’s sustainability and the utility of the investment.
Locals have demanded that the government focus on arranging regular flights, coordinating with airline companies, and addressing necessary technical and managerial aspects to ensure the airport’s operation. They argue that the airport should not be reduced to merely a spot for social media activity but should instead serve as a means of emergency and regular air access for the local community.
